The rest of the Eastern Seaboard may be awash in floodwater, but we are eternally convinced that our little island will rise above. Somehow.

And in some ways…it always does.

In times of crisis, and I have been through a few, I am always struck by just how kind New Yorkers become. They are willing to take their shirts off their backs, lend a hand, sit with a 90 year old stranger in the hospital for 12 hours to make sure he doesn’t pull out his catheter when the understaffed nursing team looks away for one second – whatever it takes to get our city back to some kind of normalcy.

We go from being a population that is typically (rightfully) stereotyped as icy, cold, rude, unapproachable, pushy, unimpressed…

…to one that is more like that of a small town in the south or the midwest on a typical Sunday, with people practically falling over themselves to help in any way they can.

It’s bittersweet in a way.

Yes, something terrible happened. But it brought out the best in people. And isn’t that amazing?

This dish is bittersweet also, with the butternut squash and radicchio battling it out to see which corner of your tastebuds will reign supreme.

It’s a truce if you ask me. They are perfectly balanced with the biting edge of one submitting to the sweet and almost nutty antics of the other. Yin and yang. Just like all of us.

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As longtime readers may know, every year, while other bloggers are celebrating the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies, I instead do the 12 Weeks of Winter Squash. {At least} one winter squash recipe. Every week. For 12 weeks.

I’m a bit late this year, mostly because to be in time for the holidays I would have had to start when everything was going on with my dad, but I’m here now. And really…come January we’ll be happy to have all of these orange veggie recipes in our arsenals when we’re trying to get back to clean eating after the weeks of indulgence.

This year, joining me is the lovely Heather of Girlichef! We will both be sharing winter squash recipes every week and we want you to join along too!! We will be posting a linky every Monday that will stay up throughout the week so that you can add the winter squash recipes that YOU’VE posted as well! The more the merrier folks, so let’s get sharing!!

Preheat oven to 400. Dice squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until tender.

Heat 2 tbsp of the remaining oil in a wide skillet. Add the radicchio, season with salt, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted and tender and no longer red, about 8 minutes. Chop the garlic, parsley and sage together. Add to the radicchio and saute for 1 minute more. Toss the radicchio/herb mix with the squash in a large bowl.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi until they start to float, about 2-3 minutes. Toss with the squash and radicchio. Serve topped with the parmesan cheese.

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.

That’s awesome to hear – I love that kindness and compassion prevail. =) So glad you made it through Sandy relatively unscathed. And now I wish I could have some of this mouthwatering gnocchi – total Fall on a plate! Here’s to the start of a deliciously orange 12 weeks =)

I love this and I love the whole twelve weeks of winter squash project- I’ll definitely be looking out for your dishes and Heather’s as well in the midst of the plethora of cakes, cookies and peppermint flavoured anything and everything over the next few months!

Glad to hear your tone is upbeat – was thinking of you with the storm because you have had enough to cope with this year already.

This sounds like a great meal – have had radicchio with gnocchi before and it worked but would be even better with pumpkin. Will look forward to your 12 weeks of winter squash – even though it is not winter I just keep on eating what we call pumpkin (which I think is like your winter squash)

I visited New York City for the first time in December 2010 and then again in May 2011, when my niece was still living in a Manhattan highrise. I thought New Yorkers were delightful – without fail – delightful. So I’m not at all surprised to hear these wonderful stories of strangers helping strangers.

It is amazing, actually, how the entire country can feud over politics and religion, but then show such compassion in a time of crisis…the kindness of strangers, incredible. As is New York. So glad you got through it unscathed.

I always love your winter squash recipes and one can never have too many. I will definitely keep up with you every week, although I may have to pull out favourites from the archives since I’ve scaled back my blogging. I still have probably 10 squashes in my kitchen.. yay for kitchen keepers!! 🙂

Glad to hear you made it through Sandy okay – some of the shots been shown this morning are aweful. The gnocchi dish looks delicious – we had a very flavorful sweet potato gnocchi dish at a restaurant last week.

I always love hearing stories about strangers coming together to help each other out, and I’m also glad to hear everything went ok for you through the storm! Look forward to seeing more squash recipes!

Good to hear from you so soon after Sandy. Living in the south I do know how we pull together in times like this, of course NYC does too! This looks amazing with the different textures and flavors. I would love to join in I just need to be very organized and get my bum in gear! 🙂

Oh Joanne, I’ve been worried sick about you! Those reports have all been so dire, I was wondering how you were coping. I’m glad that you’re hanging in there… We’ve lost power over here too, but luckily no flooding in our home, and no trees fell on our house or car. There are downed wired blocking the end of street, but we stocked up on food and water beforehand, so we’re in pretty good shape. Stay strong, things will get back to normal, slowly but surely.

Take care of yourself up there! Everyone I know in the city is no worse than shaken, but just tracking floods over the phone has been a bit harrowing. I can imagine how much worse it is for those folks without water or power, or just anyone who hasn’t been through this kind of storm before. I’m glad people are pulling together in the aftermath.

I’m glad to hear you survived the storm and that NY is getting back on its feet. Will the marathon be going ahead? I have two sets of friends that have left here for NY for the marathon but I believe they are stuck in LA. Lovely looking pumpkin. I won’t participate because it’s not the season for us but I’ll enjoy watching from the sidelines! xx

I’m so glad you’re all right! In the midst of everything that happened in NYC, I’m so proud of how people have stepped up and helped each other. That’s true NY spirit (and I’m proud to be an original New Yorker!).

My heart goes out to those affected by the hurricane. I’m glad your safe and well!! I definitely thought of you when I heard of the tragedy in NY!! And yes you’re right, sometimes bad things bring out the best in people 🙂 That’s a great way to look at it!!

It’s nice to hear that NY’ers are pulling together after such a wave of destruction. I share that bittersweet feeling when those kinds of things happen – I get it even when ambulances go by and cars all end up on the verge.

I’m impressed with this recipe and will look forward to your future ones too 🙂

It is amazing how people band together in times of trouble. I fortunately (or unfortunately?) was on my honeymoon during this horrific time and didn’t get to experience either the kindness of strangers, or the weather!

This recipe looks simply amazing for fall. I didn’t know you did 12 wks of squash, but I’m SO excited to check back for your other recipes 🙂

Well, Joanne, I admire your perseverance – and the food looks incredible! I was hoping for one of your compelling reads – got it, but none of the lengthy vivid ones today… I do believe you have made your own gnocchi before. Am I right? The dish looks divine and it is cool to see Heather doing this with you this year! 🙂V

Happy to read your thoughts on storm and I’m especially glad to hear that you are a-ok. Considering I hadn’t been there for 15 yrs and just visited a few weeks ago, it was unreal to watch the stories and photos unfold. This dish looks amazing and I had completely forgotten about the 12 weeks. I’m excited all over again!